Mastering the Basics of Writing a Compelling YouTube Video Script 

May 20, 2023
Contents

As a marketer, creating a YouTube video script that genuinely resonates with your audience is important. 

According to studies, 92% of marketers consider videos a crucial part of their marketing strategies. 

It's essential to have a clear understanding of what your target audience wants and needs to craft a compelling script,

By answering five key questions, such as:

  • Whom are you trying to reach? 
  • What are they looking for? 
  • What points do you wish to share?
  • What feeling are you trying to get across? 
  • After watching this video, what kind of response do you hope your viewers will have?

 You can create a powerful script that differentiates you from your competitors and establishes trust with your viewers. Let's get started!

What Is A Video Script?

A video script serves as a roadmap for how your video will unfold. This underutilized technique will make your video marketing stand out from the competition.

Your video's dialogue, plans, and actions are all contained in it. It is an essential tool that provides cues and reminders to you and your team on the objective, schedule, and outcomes you desire for your video.

Why Should You Write YouTube Video Scripts?

Using a script for your YouTube videos can be essential. It provides a step-by-step guide for the creation process, including shooting, editing, and more. 

A detailed script is essential for creating YouTube content, from content sequences to voiceovers and everything in between. 

It makes creating high-quality content much simpler and less of a guessing game, speeding up and simplifying filming.

Although it takes time, it can help save time in the long run. Like novels and movies, videos should follow a script for smooth and effective production. 

Once you master scripting, you won't want to create a video without it.

When Should You Script Your Youtube Videos?

To ensure your video's success, it's crucial to consider the type of video you want to create and tailor your scripting method accordingly.

Business, instructional, training, how-to, and product tour videos greatly benefit from a script, especially if there's a lot of content to cover.

However, writing a script is unnecessary for travel vlogs or testimonial videos. It's best to make a bullet-point summary of the content you want to cover in these cases. 

Therefore, it's important to have clear objectives for your video to determine whether a script is necessary.

Essential Elements That You Should Include in a YouTube Video Script

To start your scriptwriting journey, here are the basic elements of a script.

Scene Description

A scene description gives the setting for a scenario to be filmed. 

It serves as the first component of a scene and informs the reader about the setting and the time. 

An indication of whether the scene is set during the day, night, dawn, or dusk is followed by an abbreviation indicating if the shot is inside, outside, or both. 

Stage Directions

The sections of your script that surround your conversation and assist in describing the action, environment, and characters are called stage directions. 

Your stage directions need to strike a balance between effectiveness and fluency. They need to describe the scene but do it without slowing down the action or the script's pacing. 

Instead of writing objectively, constantly be immersive, bringing your characters—and therefore the reader—deep into the action.

Camera Cues

The process of developing a script must include consideration of camera cues. They instruct performers on where to stand and what to do in each scene.

There are other instances in which you may include camera cues and instructing actors on how to walk across the stage, what to say, and how to respond.

Learning how to write camera cues in a script can be done in various ways. 

Your writing style and how you want your script to read will determine which one to use for camera directions. 

Dialogue

The relationships between characters and your character's point of view are expressed through dialogue. A written or spoken exchange of words between one or more characters is referred to as dialogue. 

This verbal communication is a common element of narrative storytelling, and it is frequently simple to identify thanks to literary references or designated script spaces.

It is essential for creating characters, establishing a backstory and tone, and moving the storyline.

Post-Production Note 

These notes include comprehensive instructions for the post-production video editing process. 

After the filming and the audio and visual elements have started to be edited, this step is known as the post-production process. 

All of the activities involved in cutting raw videos, putting that footage together, adding music, dubbing, and sound effects, to mention a few, are part of the post-production process.

Callouts For B-Roll

B-roll is the term for a supporting video cut in between a main shot in a video.

We have all probably seen films where a person explains something to the camera and then cuts to a close-up of their product or a demonstration. They are referred to as "B-roll" shots. 

You should include the appropriate callouts for these B-roll images as the person who develops the video script. 

How To Write A Youtube Video Script?

Writing video scripts is intended to facilitate post-production. 

So long as your script serves the needs of the video, it does not matter whether you write a comprehensive or a brief one. 

Just be sure to add value by providing your audience with accurate information. 

Identify Your Target Audience

The correct buyer persona improves any marketing project. With video, this is exceptionally true.

Your video must communicate to a specific target because it requires more time and resources than a blog or web advertisement. 

Therefore, you must determine your video's audience before creating characters or a brief. 

Your video script's target audience may have an impact on the following:

  • Your video's duration and structure.
  • Where you upload videos.
  • Setting or ambiance, attire, and lighting.

You can broadcast to a large and varied audience if your video is intended to raise brand awareness. 

What if you are launching a new product or feature, though? 

In that instance, you should concentrate your marketing efforts on those customers who are most likely to experience the problem your product or service addresses.

You might want a different strategy if your video is intended to increase consumer or employee retention. Before writing your script brief, you should evaluate the facts, evaluations, and testimonials.

It will help you develop the narrative and conversation your audience will find engaging.

Start Brainstorming

Brainstorming is crucial in this process. Write down every thought that occurs to you for about 15 minutes. After that, elaborate on a couple of them that relate to your goals. 

Additionally, you should see if they appeal to your target audience. You should communicate the main point in an approachable way. 

Brainstorming allows you to process your ideas with your creativity.

Determine Your Narrative And Emotions

Before starting your video project, it's important to determine the narrative and emotions you want to convey. 

If your video is a group project without a clear point of emphasis, viewers may have different interpretations — causing confusion. 

So, start by considering the purpose of your video and the issue it's intended to address. 

Are you having trouble with product conversions?

Consider creating a product video for the appropriate social media network.

Do customers need more guidance?

Consider an instructional video on your website. 

Are you receiving positive feedback?

Work with influencers to promote your product. By establishing a clear narrative and emotion, you can ensure that your video is effective and impactful.

Identify The Right Keywords For Your Topic

It is time to validate your ideas after writing down a few. Let's break this process down into three parts. 

The goal is to gather several well-liked, frequently searched-for keywords. Do you know where to look for them? Here are three simple ways. 

1. Google Trends

One of the best tools for spotting prevalent search trends on Google is Google Trends. But YouTube can also take advantage of this information. 

Just enter your search terms in the box provided. When you do this, a graphical representation of the interest in your search phrase' during the last year will appear. 

2. YouTube Suggestions

It is another fantastic free method to find the targeted keywords. It resembles "Google Suggest" a lot. 

When you enter your search criteria, the Youtube search box will display a list of relevant queries. 

These inquiries are also an excellent resource for finding the proper keywords because they are created based on what people are searching for worldwide. 

You can use the asterisk (*) to find additional iterations of your search term when + you enter "how to * a cake," for instance, a list of suggestions appears, including "how to bake a cake," "how to make a vanilla cake," "how to make a cake without an oven," etc. 

These methods might help you choose the best specific keywords for your videos.

3. SEO Tools

You can calculate the search volume and difficulty of the chosen keywords with SEO tools. 

Even though they offer in-depth analysis of metrics like impressions, bounce rate, and clicks, you can start by concentrating only on search volume and difficulty.

Write An Outline 

Create a brief before writing an outline. A brief must be simple and adhere to a predetermined format. But it must address several important issues to create a successful video script.

You can quickly create a brief in Google Docs to act as a dynamic template that you can update over time and on which your team can work together.

Once you have chosen a topic and prepared a brief, it's time to begin writing the script for your video. Starting with an outline will help organize your video script. You can decide how your dialogue or what monologue will develop and divide the main issues of your video into subtopics in this way.

Edit, Format, Revise, And Repeat

When it comes to writing a script, it's crucial to not only focus on word count but also the editing process. 

After finishing your first draft, take the time to read through it and make any necessary changes. 

It's okay to delete sentences that don't fit your objectives. As you edit, be sure to add pauses and consider the rhythm of your sentences. 

Reading your script aloud can help you perfect your pacing. 

If you struggle to convey complex ideas, try providing examples to simplify your concepts. 

Remember:

Writing is a process, and it's okay to go through multiple rounds of editing to make sure your script is the best it can be.

Get Feedback 

Someone not involved in the writing or editing process must read your script after you have finished writing and revising it. 

Any of your acquaintances, coworkers, or siblings could be the culprit. Give it to them to read, and depending on their feedback, strive to improve the script. 

Divide Your Script Into Sections And Start Writing 

You can always break up the script into several portions for easy reading. An effective draft will include the following: 

1. Hook 

Having a compelling video hook is crucial because it draws more viewers in and (hopefully) keeps these people watching the entire video from start to finish. 

According to YouTube, you have 15 seconds to capture your audience's attention. If you do not, they might search for a video that better suits their needs.

The best hooks state the benefits that your audience will receive. They are precise, understandable, and easy to comprehend.

This strategy suits harried viewers perfectly. It confirms that choosing this particular video based on the title and thumbnail layout was right.

For example, it might

  • A brief overview of the video's subject 
  • A catchy phrase or sentence
  • A captivating image or a brief teaser 

2. Intro

When writing a YouTube video script, make sure to keep the beginning concise. 

Start by grabbing your viewer's attention by explaining what they will gain from watching. After that, introduce yourself and provide an overview of the topic. 

For example, you could say: 

Today, I'm going to show you how to do X to achieve Y, let's Go!" in your hook and then follow it up with "Hello, my name is X. Welcome to our channel where we help you achieve Y, today I'm going to share. 

in your introduction. 

By following this method, you can draw in viewers and keep them interested during the first minute of your video.

3. Content 

This section of the script will be the most in-depth. Make sure to discuss all the necessary aspects of your narrative. 

However, avoid making it overly long. Nowadays, people's attention spans are short. Therefore, you do not want people to grow bored and wander off. 

4. Call to Action 

To grow your YouTube channel:

  1. Add clear call-to-actions at the end of your videos.
  2. Ask viewers to like, subscribe, comment, and share.
  3. Mention external pages and resources to increase views and subscribers and monetize your content. 

Then, include a benefit in your call-to-action, such as a guide explaining what it is, why it's important, and what readers will get from it. 

Lastly, change your call-to-action to cater to your target market's interests.

Tips & Tricks To Help You Write Video Scripts

While these techniques work, creating the ideal YouTube video script requires more than a solid concept and outline. Here are valuable suggestions for giving your script more personality while also tightening up and improving the flow of your videos. 

Create A Powerful Beginning

The opening 10% of your video receives more views than any other part. 

Therefore, while producing a video script, your primary objective is to capture viewers from the start and keep them interested until the end.

Introduce the primary character or narrator and what the audience will learn at the end of the video in the first few lines. You can provide detailed explanations later in your video.

For instance, if you instruct people on SEO-optimizing their blogs, your opening statement can be: "Hello! I'm [narrator] from [business], and I'm going to show you how to get your blog ranked on Google in the next [length of video] minutes.”

Remember that some viewers may also choose to watch your video without sound. You still need to make your video clear to viewers silently browsing your social media or website.

Be Concise

Shorter videos are typically more compelling in marketing than lengthier ones. A Wyzowl survey found that 68% of respondents preferred to watch a "short video" to learn about new goods and services.

Due to this, it would be best to keep your video short to to keep your viewers attention and increase your watch time

However, you still  need a brief script to produce short videos. Try to make it not more than two pages long. 

It would be even better if you could keep it to one page.

Essentially, a good script makes the video creation process easier — resulting in a more streamlined process to create engaging videos.

Write In Short Paragraphs

When crafting a script, time is crucial. You will read roughly two words per second if you read at a casual pace.

When writing and editing your script, it is simpler to recognize the pacing when the paragraphs are brief. They also make using a teleprompter simpler.

Therefore, try to limit your paragraphs to no more than 3–4 sentences.Structure each paragraph intelligently to cover each point. 

The first sentence should state the main idea, and the succeeding phrases should develop it. 

It is a tried-and-true writing strategy you will recognize in well-written text.

Support Any B-Roll With The Proper Callouts In Your Main Narrative

If you're planning to show a close-up of your product or a demonstration in your video, make sure to include some cues in your script to let the viewers know what they're looking at. 

This is where B-roll comes in - it's basically supplemental footage you can use while someone speaks off-screen. 

In a blog post, you might say, "Take a look at the graph below," but that won't be very effective in a video. 

Instead, you can write something like "in the graph, you see here" in your script while showing the graph on the screen. 

These cues will also help your talent know what to do while reading the lines and keep your viewers engaged. 

Remember to include open loops so your viewers know what to expect next!

Use Graphics To Make Your Video Stand Out

Visuals are essential when it comes to creating a standout video. Graphics can help simplify your message and make it easier for viewers to remember. 

You can incorporate images, animations, infographics, or moving text into your videos to enhance the overall experience. 

Remember to add visuals that are valuable to your audience and complement your script

Furthermore, a good script for a video should include both audio and visual components to tell a complete story. 

You can place visual cues beside voiceover cues and sound effects to help the speaker incorporate them at the right time. 

Alternatively, you can use separate rows for each shot or scene, making the scene transition clear. 

This is especially useful when working with a team where the voiceover artist and the person editing the footage may need different cues.

How to Add Some Variety To Your Script

Creating video scripts is enjoyable, so ensure the fun comes over. Try a few ideas as you write and revise your script to liven up the conversation, pictures, and organization.

Here are a few suggestions to help you spice up your scriptwriting.

Provide Backstories

Consider the scenario when your main character discusses looking for a better toothbrush.

Sharing your character's background enables you to show your readers what inspired her when she first started, even if that inspiration was that she was a cookie-loving pastry chef who was prone to cavities.

Use Opposites

Opposites are a common idea in improv acting, and they can be useful when you are trying to give your script some variation.

Let's take the scenario where your story has two ambitious characters. A person may be ambitious because they desire to succeed after receiving terrible grades in high school. 

The other person has high expectations because they consistently do well in school and want it to continue. 

Their conversations will be more engaging as a result of their opposite motives.

Look for Inspiration

You can use movies, TV shows, books, and images to help you paint a more detailed picture of the world in your video script. 

You can utilize your inspiration as a direct writing tool or as inspiration when you are feeling stuck.

Think Big

Take a step back and consider the big picture as another way to add variation. 

You might get a sense of where your script could require some work by writing an outline of it on notecards or by utilizing one for each scene.

Plan To Repurpose Your Video Content

Your ultimate objective should be a fantastic final video, but when you compose your script, you should also think about the future.

Your team will distribute clips from most marketing videos on social media, in emails, and during presentations. Most marketing videos will not just publish on one platform.

It is, therefore, wise to plan for reuse. Consider the parts of your script that might be interesting as you write.

Try to write with rapid clips in mind, even if the script is for a brief video. For instance, plan to use five-second clips for a two-minute video.

FAQs: YouTube Video Script

How do you script a YouTube video?

Think of the objective of your video and your target audience. Create an outline with your ideas and edit it to get the best out of the scriptwriting process.

Can you get a YouTube video script?

Open a video on YouTube.com with a desktop or laptop web browser like Google Chrome, choose a video to view, and click the three-dot menu symbol to the right of the video title. When you choose "Show Transcript" from the menu, a transcript box with captions and timestamps will appear.

What makes a good YouTube video script?

A good video script uses straightforward language that everybody can comprehend. Avoid sounding like you are giving a research presentation or an academic speech, and avoid writing a screenplay that seems too informal.

Conclusion: YouTube Video Script

A video script can be a hastily scribbled draft or a masterpiece. In either case, it will serve as the core of your video and significantly influence and impact your outcomes.

YouTube scriptwriting requires more than just creating titles and descriptions for videos. It needs writing carefully designed scripts that promote engagement.

When you script, you can experiment with new concepts and push the possible limits. To create and experiment, use these guidelines and tips. 

Start working today to grow your company!

If your scripts are well-written, you can develop a devoted following of viewers who actively engage in your content and support achieving your goals.

Written By
Kim Pañares

Create Stunning Videos Easily

Skyrocket your video marketing efforts today

OFFEO Video Templates

Create stunning animated social media videos in afew clicks

Related articles